Mangaluru: Deputy Commissioner of the Dakshina Kannada district, Sindhu B Rupesh has directed the officials to take stringent action against those spreading false and creating confusion about the novel coronavirus (covid-19).

This direction comes in response to a fake message that has been doing the rounds on social media, asking “Mangaloreans” to ” stay indoors” after 10 pm on March 18 till 5 am on March 19 claiming that “there will be a disinfectant spraying procedure in order to contain Covid-19”.

The message further asked the readers to share the “information to all your friends, relatives and family”.

Khader Shah, Senior Assistant Director of the Department of Information and Public Relations, informed the media that according to the government order HFW/54/CGM2020 dated March 11, “spreading rumours and wrong information about Covid-19 is a punishable offence”.

“Therefore, action will be taken agains those spreading false information about coronavirus,” he added.

Meanwhile, as many as 632 people have been screened for covid-19 in the district. As many as 689 people are under home quarantine and eight completed their quarantine period on March 18.

So far, no one has tested positive for covid-19 in DK, however, two persons have been admitted and placed under observation.